181 Comments

(this is a type test. i’m just checking if i can type letters in this website. pls. ignore what i’m saying at this time. however, i do urge ppl here to read my post-season comments after the stanley cup final in over. ciao for now…..)

Love him or hate him, Briere is a clutch player… up there with the top active playoff performers. Not too many players out there who’ve played at least 100 playoff games and are a point a game player (the only other is Jagr.)

As for the whole debate on whether North Americans are better than Europeans come playoff time, it’s all BS…

I crunched some number regarding the top active players and here are some results, by points and games.

* Shiram – because he knows poutine suits every occasion/
* Bugz – because he is unafraid to pursue his eccentricities with style, if not good sense.
* Mike Boone – because, like that monarch who mingled among his subjects disguised as a beggar, he reads every idiotic post but refrains from intervening. Noblesse oblige.
* HardHabits: because, like Sebastian in Brideshead Revisited, he wants to be first or last but nothing in between.

I am with you on Hitch Shiram. While Maclean did a great job in Ottawa, Hitch took that team to the top with very little change in players from previous year. (Yes they added Elliot, and Perron came back from injury)

My pick would be Hitch. But People are definitely underestimating what Torts did this year. He’s got that team playing a complete team first game all season long. It’s no fluke they finished first in the east and how many predicted that. That team has completely bought in. They’re my pick outta the east and have been when the playoffs started.

I don’t disagree at all. I do feel though Torts should get a little more recognition. Look who the Sens had to pass to get where they were in the standings. AND they did do a great job, especially Karlsson. But the ranger WON the east. Better than Philly (who they owned), Pit, NJ, Bos…

Shoutouts to Jordan Eberle, last second goal, Matt Hackett, who’s on Canada’s team probably because Price is hurt and 25 year old Marc Edouard Vlasic of the Sharks (probably why they don’t miss Josh Gorges).

* They support the Nashville Predators in the current Stanley Cup playoffs.
* They like to make fun of every post that has the word “Konopka” in it.
* They call Mike Boone “Boone” or ” Hey Boone”.
* They do not have an opinion on the next GM.
* They did not like the previous GM, who they call “PG”.
* They tut-tut Don Cherry’s every utterance but watch every segment of coaches corner.
* They find mention of Jaroslav Halak unbearably tedious.
* They never really understood HardHabit’s complex and always-shifting views on the subject of Tanking.

*Not cheering for Nashville
*Would have liked it if we signed Konopka but am also willing to poke fun at the great Zenon.
* I have called him Boone, Mr. Boone and may have said Hey Boone.
*Not sure if I have an opinion whether or not I have an opinion on the next GM, but do have a very strong opinion on who shouldn’t be the next GM (Pierre McGuire )
*Didn’t like PG
*Disagree with Cherry most nights, but sometimes agree.
*Do not understand the fixation people continue to have with Halak
*Never understood how people couldn’t see HH just loves to stir the pot, and once in a blue moon he and I agree.

habfan72….did you know that Winnepeg drafted Doan with the trade pick MTL gave them in the Stephan Qunitel trade. Imagine we had kept that pick, and had drafted Doan. Seems to me he is one loyal player to his team! And a good one too. Sure he is nearing end of his career now, but man Habs could still have him in our line up. While Quintel walked away as a UFA!

Please stop salting the wounds! You may get slapdowns about “woulda, coulda” thinking, but these players were destined to be NHLers and some of them stars. It’s worth analyzing how we missed on them or we could be resigned and cheer for whatever group of players are on the Habs, stars or not.

I like green grass! But it’s just analyzing how key players arrived at their highly valuable status on their particular team. Phoenix would have been out of contention a while ago without Smith’s contributions. Not too counterfactual I hope.

At the risk of re-opening the can of worms as it relates to hockey will in relation to where you are born.

I think it is fair to say that Canadian born players who have grown up with watching NHL and specifically NHL Playoff hockey, understand that in order to become a Cup Champion you win with great sacrifice.

However, this does not give Canadian born players exclusivity or entitlement as to being the only ones who can do this.

Clearly some kids grow up in other countries and love hockey with complete passion. Due to where they grew up, they may not know much about NHL hockey and more specifically they may not be aware of the fact that in the NHL come playoff time rulebooks become something of a farce.

But…. it doesn’t take long for these players to quickly learn how the NHL playoffs work.

Reality is, there are players in the league born in Canada, US, Russia and elsewhere who have figured out how to become clutch playoff players, just as there are players from the identical countries who have not figured it out.

Watching the Champions League Semi’s recently who would have believed 40 years ago that a Dutchman and a Frenchman would be starring for Bayern Munich and giving it their all for a German Club team! Just the same in Hockey, it is up the individual to achieve greatness, their place of birth matters not.

Things changed in the last 9 years.
3 of the last 4 Conn Smythe winners were not Canadian. Thomas Malkin and Zetterberg. 4 of the last 9 winners were not Canadian. Add Lindstrom in 2002.
That makes 2 Swedes, 1 Russian, and 1 American,

Some of these players are highly skilled all the time though, you dont see a european turn it up a notch come playoff time and perform beyond what they did in the regular season as much, like a la Claude Lemieux.

[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.

Im sorry but I dont believe you did, well you might have, but doing so while being under 5 years old doesnt really count. C.Lemieux’s playoff play could not be described as ‘par for the course’. Big goals in big games. The Sedins performed last year in the playoffs, meaning they got points, but most of those were with the man advantage, a few 5 on 3s even. At even strength they werent a factor. It aint just about points.

[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.

actually that statement he makes is probably true from pure simple numbers. The statement would be bad if it said, more canadian kids dream about being great hockey players than russians..

Every boy in Canada (almost) dreams of becoming a Stanley Cup Champion.

I am guessing kids in Russia grow up dreaming of winning a GOld medal for Russia, and there is nothing wrong with that. Then as they become more aware of the NHL the Stanley Cup enters the equation. The fact they grow up watching local hockey and watching their country win championships is the closest thing they can relate to at a young age.

sane hockey fan, you’re the poster who informed me that a low-brow fan threw a banana towards Kevin Weekes of the Panthers at the Bell Centre in 2002, and even provided the link to the CBC news story. It’s highly unlikely that you are racist. You may have left yourself open to being labelled with an observation that is really more about the subject of culture and youth aspirations. Example, more Russian men aspire to dance for the Bolshoi, or Kirov, than Canadian men. Equal numbers aspire to win Olympic gold in figure skating. Et cetera.

‘the ghosts of the forum’ are still haunting the old Forum premises. They unanimously declined the invitation to move with the team and are hunkered down for good. They miss all the flags and banners too.

Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.

1. Who’s with me?
2. Who are our best players? This Doan guy is he really a racist or was it all one big misunderstanding?
3. What do we call ourselves? Yotes? Any other cute nickname?
4. What is the greatest moment in our history? When were our glory years? Have we retired any numbers?
5. Phoenix: obesity capital of the world and second home of Frank Lloyd Wright. What else do I need to know?
6. If we win the cup, do we have a parade? I hear there are only interstates and shopping malls in the greater Phoenix conurbation.

Ahhh yes how did I forget about Thomas Steen. Great story there, he is now an elected city councillor in Wpg. I guess they retired Hull’s number because he was a great player, and they were desperate to give something to a player who actually played in Phoenix. Cannot understand the Gretzky banner…..

I am sure Shane Doan will be hanging in those rafters the day he retires.

1. Sorry, don’t care.
2. Mike Smith and Mike Smith- hence all those saves.
3. The Coys- but they weren’t being clear about that.
4. Arriving in Arizona with icepicks.
5. Les Emigres are the ringers the farmers keep bringing in.
6. No parade. Just a train ride in one of the malls and a free ticket to a Diamondback game.

Just goes to show there are plenty of clutch Euros and plenty of choking Canadians. (and vice versa with both).

Where a player is born has no impact on his heart, talent, grit, or ability to play in the NHL. These are all individuals, and each individual should be judged on who they are, not on their countrymen that have come before them.

Just remember just because Neanderthals like Don Cherry perpetuate this myth, it doesn’t make it true.

To say it isnt true is more political correctness than fact, those guys dont grow up watching it like canadians do, kids from different corners of the earth grow up with different dreams etc. Sure they like to win, but the sheer will isnt quite the same. just like the sheer will of a canadian born soccer player to win the Serie A championship isnt the same as an italian.

[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.

How about Irish Canadiens do they go to the bar to much after games, what about Americans,Damn Swedes , all labels and stereotypical views have no place in society or Hockey.

A players heart and will should be judged by his effort on the ice , the game is filled with different type’s of role players of all kind, including goal scorers or players willing to slide in front of a Chara blast in a tie game during the season or play-offs.

Let us drop these old Cherryesque views for every Rene Bourque Their is an Alex Semin, Just like for every Claude Giroux there is a Pavel Datsyuk

There should be no contest for the next general manager as the very best candidate is 46 year old MARC BERGEVIN. A 20 year playing career for several organizations, a leader, did some assistant coaching, amateur and pro scouting, director of player personnel, and a Stanley Cup ring.

He has everything needed and has proven that through his playing and management career. He also answers the sensitive political questions.

Please do NOT allow the next Habs GM to be Julien Brisebois, and how could he even be considered for the Habs job? If his name was John Brown how much would he be sponsored by a certain segment of the Quebec press?

Let’s get a few things straight and out of the way right away. With respect to these professions, today lawyers are a dime a dozen and MBAs are a dime a dozen.
To learn how to be a Capologist takes a 2 day course and half a brain with a calculator. The CBA rules are simple and clear. You have roster sizes-maximum contracts-cap floor and ceiling-rules for yearly increases and decreases in a long term contract-calculating cap on a daily basis-2 way contracts-bonuses-LTIR replacement effects on the daily cap calculation-filing dates.. These are all easily hired, but you can’t learn about a dressing room from a book. You can’t learn about feel from a book.

And how does a 35 year old LEAD men and women in a multi million dollar organization with no practical hockey experience? There is a reason why recently there have been just a few general managers that had that job in their 30s and Brisebois is no Stan Bowman with Scotty sitting on the right hand side. Over and above that, any 35 year old does not have enough experience and depth of life experiences and can be easily panicked and rattled. Just what we need in Montreal.

What has he ever done in the Habs organization above being a runner for Gainey and Gauthier? Now 2 years with Yzerman makes him the best man? Do you believe for 1 second that if he was such a shining star that Molson would have let him go in the first place only 2 years ago? Please for god’s sake.

Whatever you do Mr. Molson, find the BEST HOCKEY MAN-a mature hockey man that can lead people and make decisions. You surround him with other hockey men with complimentary experience and then go out and hire the dime a dozen lawyers, accountants, capologists, power skating experts, psychologists,skate sharpeners,pyramid power gurus…

What the Habs DON’T need right now is a non hockey experienced lawyer that doesn’t know how a dressing room works> that never was part of hiring a coach> that doesn’t know if a player is cheating or not because he never played> that doesn’t have enough long term solid contacts in the league that he can count on and trust for real information when making trades.

Pierre Mcguire? That’s like asking Dear Abby to run the New York Times.

Regarding Muller and Boucher, teams never get in the way of a person moving up, and there is never a shortage of candidates for the Habs coaching job if it is done in the off season. Who knows, maybe 1 day they will be back.
I never mentioned that Brisebois was incompetent> just that he was the wrong person at the wrong time for the job along with a body of work unworthy concerning experience and leadership for the position of Habs general manager. The ones on RDS pushing for him were the same that would want a job from him. The others were part of the Rene Levesque gang.

Agreed on this one. Bergevin is also my choice. Good initial post on Brisebois vs Bergevin. The Gainey/Gauthier era is over and that mind set did not work. Brisebois having gone to that school would just be bringing a younger Gainey-Gauthier mentality.

Agreed. The Gainey/Gauthier thing is over and you would have to imagine Mr. Molson gets it and received a rude awakening. It’s 2012, not the 1980s or 1990s.

There is a product and a brand to protect. You never want a loud mouth such as Burke being the team’s poster boy, but there is something very nice in the middle of a Gauthier and a Burke. You have to communicate and respect your clientele without having them run the team.

Winning usually solves all, yet when that doesn’t happen, you still need to treat today’s consumers with respect and understanding. One day, Quebec City will have a team, and when choice presents itself, you had better be on the right side of those making the choice.

I think I will put my faith in the interview process, concluding Serge Savard and Geoff Molson will find the man with the right vision, pro player procurement abilities, amateur and pro player evaluation, cap room management skills, along with professional level contacts throughout the League, North America and Europe to name a few skills required. I think the interviews, initial and follow ups will weed out any candidates not up to the tasks at hand.

That said I am no Pierre McGuire, or Julien Brisebois or Marc Bergevin etc… supporter. I support the Canadiens and have to believe Mr. Molson & Savard know how to conduct interviews to find the right man. I have my doubts about every candidate , but allot of the anti Mcguire sentiment stems from his on air persona, and that really should not come into play, so he is annoying, maybe if we heard Julien Brisebois or Marc Bergevin everyday we would have issues with their personas as well,

I will choose to let the hiring process and interviews and references take heed, and place my trust in our ownership group to pick the right man , whomever they choose we should have support for his plan.

ps Alex Galchenyuk is American born, in Milwaukee, Played amateur Hockey in Mid West before being first Pick in OHL draft ahead of Nail Yakupov

With you all the way. Bergevin was presented because he has all the talents required. The only things we don’t know are his personal character details and whether or not Mr. Molson would have a comfort level/chemistry working with him. Those are key at that level and the word Trust also comes to mind.

Was Gainey surrounded with the best people that complimented his style and knowledge? Was Gainey autocratic and were they just yes men? Gainey was a great player and won a cup in Dallas as manager, but we will never know how much his multiple personal tragedies affected his professional abilities and his decision making process while with the Habs. Last I looked, Gainey is also a human being like the rest of us. No one walking the earth could ever block out what he went through and be at 110% to perform the tough duties of the Habs job.

Yotes staying in Glendale? Interesting when reading this report from AZCentral, Jerry Moyes before bankruptcy was asking the city for about 15million a year in help running the arena. Since then the city has been paying the NHL 25Million in subsidies per year, they are now looking at an agreement with potential new owner Jamison at again more than the amount Moyes was looking for.

It’s not meaningless. It’s an international tournament. Just because North American fans don’t watch sport with an international perspective doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

I’d wager that club games matter less world wide than they do in North America… heck, look at ‘football’. They friggin’ shut down their club seasons so players can play in international exhibitions.

It’s funny, people say Loungo hasn’t won anything… except he has the olympic gold medal, but we don’t attach the same value on that. It’s the absolute top level of competive hockey you can play, but somehow it ranks below a club league trophy where more than two thirds of the people on the winning team would never qualify for their olympic teams… odd.

Yes i get the WHC is not the Olympics, but my point is: Just because we like club games better then international doesn’t mean it’s worthless… but I suppose this is the internet and it’s easier to hate something instead of thinking about it from someone else’s perspective…

I used to feel that way, mainly because he chose not to sign with us, but watching him every year in the playoffs has made me reverse my opinion. I can’t dislike him, and I would love to have him on our team. Besides, judging by events in the last few years, his decision to sign with the Flyers was the right one.

He doesn’t have to. But where’s the angry media when a Quebec player turns down the Habs? Why is he not scrutinized by the same media that freak out if the Habs overlook a Quebecois player that’s available?

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“Bring it on home, Bring it on home to you…” – Plant/Page